Romney campaign dragged into lawsuit against Rutherford

The former employee of Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford whose lawsuit derailed his gubernatorial campaign has expanded his allegations to include Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

Edmund Michalowski says that in 2011 he was illegally forced by Mr. Rutherford to do political work for Romney for President Inc., according to an amended complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Among his duties for the Romney campaign was spending several thousand dollars to organize an effort to obtain signatures on nominating petitions, the amended complaint says.

Mr. Michalowski also alleges that he was forced to make donations that benefited both the Rutherford and Romney campaigns, the amended complaint says.

Mr. Rutherford has previously denied Mr. Michalowski's allegations. A spokeswoman declined to comment on the new allegations.

Mr. Rutherford was Illinois campaign chairman for Mr. Romney's run for the White House in 2012, making the Romney campaign responsible for Mr. Rutherford's action.

An official with the Romney campaign could not be reached for comment.

The new allegations are consistent with charges of forced political activity that Mr. Michalowski made in his original complaint, which was filed on Feb. 10, while Mr. Rutherford was running his unsuccessful campaign to be the Republican nominee for governor. The original complaint also charged that Mr. Rutherford made inappropriate sexual advances, allegations that are repeated in the amended filing.

U.S. District Court Judge Joan Lefkow dismissed the original complaint on June 3, but gave Mr. Michalowski time to file the amended complaint. Mr. Rutherford's lawyers had previously asked the judge to dismiss the case, contending that the original complaint did not violated Mr. Michalowski's constitutional rights. Judge Lefkow did not rule on that motion, dismissing the case on procedural grounds.

The amended complaint also alleges that Mr. Rutherford hired interns based on the politicians who sponsored them.